Sega has announced that a mobile "sequel" to 2012's Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is available now. The iOS and Android version adds new modes, 75 new events, and a new World Tour.

The title supports controllers on both iOS and Android, making the experience feel more like a handheld game. Included in this new version is Shenmue's lead character Ryo Hazuki, who pilots an OutRun arcade cabinet. The title is available now in the App Store and Google Play Store for $4.99.

Our TakeWhile I'm not as connected to most of the cast of Sonic's latest racing title, I found it to be one of the best kart racers in recent memory. I'm interested to see how the mobile version fares, but I wouldn't recommend doing so without a controller.

I'm very curious if these major companies--Sega, Capcom, Square-Enix especially, are actually making money by their (especially the latter two) heavy emphasis on mobile gaming these days.
I have found the mobile market to be little more than a great place to be ignored by the maximum number of people.

So the mobile version gets a new character but not the console version? That's messed up. I really hope that Sega's working on a legit sequel for consoles as I really enjoyed this game. My only gripe was that it would've been cooler to see more characters from places like Streets of Rage, Vectorman, Comix Zone, Shenmue, Eternal Champions, Virtua Fighter, Virtua Cop etc.

It's a small gripe though. This game is awesome. When the worst you can say about a game is that you wish there was more of it, that's probably a good thing!

Okay, now add Ryo - including his awesome arcade cabinet "vehicle" - to the other versions please. Or, I guess we can just wait for the 3rd Sonic All Stars Racing. It should at least be announced this year... although I don't know how big Sumo Digital is, and they're reportedly busy with Littlebigplanet 3 right now. Maybe the Sonic All Stars team is busy working on that.